TOP actor and mountaineer Brian Blessed has rapped plans for a huge new dock on the edge of Southampton Water.

The star of stage and television arrived on the edge of Dibden Bay and said: "The New Forest is about to become the first National Park of the new century - and if this goes ahead, it will begin life with a gaping wound in its side.''

Mr Blessed is president of the Council for National Parks, which held its annual conference in Southampton over the weekend.

He dashed back to the area after appearing in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the London Palladium on Saturday night to meet CNP officers and anti-Dibden Bay campaigners.

Speaking of his campaign for national parks, he said: "I need to be used ruthlessly to help the countryside - and the countryside here needs help. There is no doubt that the Earth is dying and the countdown has started.''

He added: "Dibden Bay has the appearance of a place where time has stood still. A container terminal here would destroy the last remaining substantial stretch of open countryside.

"I accept that there is a national need for a container port - but there is not a national need to have it here. There are sites at Harwich and at Thames Gateway which are much more conducive to their areas.

"I have loved the New Forest since I was a child and I was inspired by the book Children of the New Forest. Now we must make sure that children of the future have a New Forest which has not been wounded.

"It is planned as the first national park of the new century and if this goes ahead it will begin life with a gaping wound in its side.''

The mountaineer, who has made it to the North Pole and is preparing for a Coronation anniversary assault on Everest, was accompanied by CNP director Vicki Elxcoate.

She said the council was objecting to the terminal on the grounds of the area's wildlife, the importance of the national park's environment, the landscape and the opportunities for people to visit the area and enjoy it.

The public inquiry into the terminal plan is due to resume tomorrow after a two-week recess.

Associated British Ports, the owner of Southampton docks, says the planned £738m container port is necessary because the current port is running out of room.